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Geothermal
Geothermal energy comes from two sources: Radioactive decay in the crust
of the earth, and heat trickling through the mantle from the earth’s core.
The heat in the core is there because the earth used to be red-hot, and it’s
still cooling down and solidifying; the heat in the core is also being topped up
by tidal friction: the earth flexes in response to the gravitational fields of the
moon and sun, in the same way that an orange changes shape if you
squeeze it and roll it between your hands.
The Geothermal energy of the Earth's crust originates from the original
formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of minerals (80%).
The geothermal gradient, which is the difference in temperature between the
core of the planet and its surface, drives a continuous conduction of thermal
energy in the form of heat from the core to the surface.
The adjective geothermal originates from the Greek roots γη (ge), meaning
earth, and θερμος (thermos), meaning hot.
At the core of the Earth, temperatures may reach over 5000 degrees Celsius.
Heat conducts from the core to surrounding cooler rock. The high temperature
and pressure cause some rock to melt, creating magma convection upward
since it is lighter than the solid rock. The magma heats rock and water in the
crust, sometimes up to 370 degrees Celsius (700 degrees Fahrenheit).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy
History
The oldest known pool fed by a hot spring, built in the Qin dynasty in the 3rd century BCE.
Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since paleolithic times. The oldest
known spa is a stone pool on China’s Lisan mountain built in the Qin dynasty in the
3rd century BC, at the same site where the Huaqing Chi palace was later built.
Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since paleolithic times. The oldest
known spa is a stone pool on China’s Lisan mountain built in the Qin dynasty in the
3rd century BC, at the same site where the Huaqing Chi palace was later built.
In the first century AD, Romans conquered Aquae Sulis, now Bath, Somerset,
England, and used the hot springs there to feed public baths and underfloor heating.
The admission fees for these baths probably represent the first commercial use of
geothermal power. The world's oldest geothermal district heating system in
Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the 14th century.
Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since paleolithic times. The oldest
known spa is a stone pool on China’s Lisan mountain built in the Qin dynasty in the
3rd century BC, at the same site where the Huaqing Chi palace was later built.
In the first century AD, Romans conquered Aquae Sulis, now Bath, Somerset,
England, and used the hot springs there to feed public baths and underfloor heating.
The admission fees for these baths probably represent the first commercial use of
geothermal power. The world's oldest geothermal district heating system in
Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the 14th century.
The earliest industrial exploitation began in 1827 with the use of geyser steam to
extract boric acid from volcanic mud in Larderello, Italy.
Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since paleolithic times. The oldest
known spa is a stone pool on China’s Lisan mountain built in the Qin dynasty in the
3rd century BC, at the same site where the Huaqing Chi palace was later built.
In the first century AD, Romans conquered Aquae Sulis, now Bath, Somerset,
England, and used the hot springs there to feed public baths and underfloor heating.
The admission fees for these baths probably represent the first commercial use of
geothermal power. The world's oldest geothermal district heating system in
Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the 14th century.
The earliest industrial exploitation began in 1827 with the use of geyser steam to
extract boric acid from volcanic mud in Larderello, Italy.
In 1892, America's first district heating system in Boise, Idaho was powered directly
by geothermal energy, and was copied in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1900.
Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since paleolithic times. The oldest
known spa is a stone pool on China’s Lisan mountain built in the Qin dynasty in the
3rd century BC, at the same site where the Huaqing Chi palace was later built.
In the first century AD, Romans conquered Aquae Sulis, now Bath, Somerset,
England, and used the hot springs there to feed public baths and underfloor heating.
The admission fees for these baths probably represent the first commercial use of
geothermal power. The world's oldest geothermal district heating system in
Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the 14th century.
The earliest industrial exploitation began in 1827 with the use of geyser steam to
extract boric acid from volcanic mud in Larderello, Italy.
In 1892, America's first district heating system in Boise, Idaho was powered directly
by geothermal energy, and was copied in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1900.
A deep geothermal well was used to heat greenhouses in Boise in 1926, and
geysers were used to heat greenhouses in Iceland and Tuscany at about the same
time.
Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since paleolithic times. The oldest
known spa is a stone pool on China’s Lisan mountain built in the Qin dynasty in the
3rd century BC, at the same site where the Huaqing Chi palace was later built.
In the first century AD, Romans conquered Aquae Sulis, now Bath, Somerset,
England, and used the hot springs there to feed public baths and underfloor heating.
The admission fees for these baths probably represent the first commercial use of
geothermal power. The world's oldest geothermal district heating system in
Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the 14th century.
The earliest industrial exploitation began in 1827 with the use of geyser steam to
extract boric acid from volcanic mud in Larderello, Italy.
In 1892, America's first district heating system in Boise, Idaho was powered directly
by geothermal energy, and was copied in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1900.
A deep geothermal well was used to heat greenhouses in Boise in 1926, and
geysers were used to heat greenhouses in Iceland and Tuscany at about the same
time.
Charlie Lieb developed the first downhole heat exchanger in 1930 to heat his house.
Steam and hot water from geysers began heating homes in Iceland starting in 1943.
Electricity Production
How can we produce electricity using geothermal energy?
Any suggestions ?
Electricity Production
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewableenergy/how-geothermal-energy-works.html
In the 20th century, demand for electricity led to the consideration of geothermal power as a
generating source. Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first geothermal power generator on
4 July 1904, at the same Larderello (Italy) dry steam field where geothermal acid extraction
began. It successfully lit four light bulbs. Later, in 1911, the world's first commercial
geothermal power plant was built there. It was the world's only industrial producer of
geothermal electricity until New Zealand built a plant in 1958.
In the 20th century, demand for electricity led to the consideration of geothermal power as a
generating source. Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first geothermal power generator on
4 July 1904, at the same Larderello (Italy) dry steam field where geothermal acid extraction
began. It successfully lit four light bulbs. Later, in 1911, the world's first commercial
geothermal power plant was built there. It was the world's only industrial producer of
geothermal electricity until New Zealand built a plant in 1958.
Lord Kelvin invented the heat pump in 1852, and Heinrich Zoelly had patented the idea of
using it to draw heat from the ground in 1912. But it was not until the late 1940s that the
geothermal heat pump was successfully implemented. The earliest one was probably Robert
C. Webber's home-made 2.2 kW direct-exchange system, but sources disagree as to the
exact timeline of his invention. J. Donald Kroeker designed the first commercial geothermal
heat pump to heat the Commonwealth Building (Portland, Oregon) and demonstrated it in
1946. Professor Carl Nielsen of Ohio State University built the first residential open loop
version in his home in 1948. The technology became popular in Sweden as a result of the
1973 oil crisis, and has been growing slowly in worldwide acceptance since then. The 1979
development of polybutylene pipe greatly augmented the heat pump’s economic viability.
In the 20th century, demand for electricity led to the consideration of geothermal power as a
generating source. Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first geothermal power generator on
4 July 1904, at the same Larderello (Italy) dry steam field where geothermal acid extraction
began. It successfully lit four light bulbs. Later, in 1911, the world's first commercial
geothermal power plant was built there. It was the world's only industrial producer of
geothermal electricity until New Zealand built a plant in 1958.
Lord Kelvin invented the heat pump in 1852, and Heinrich Zoelly had patented the idea of
using it to draw heat from the ground in 1912. But it was not until the late 1940s that the
geothermal heat pump was successfully implemented. The earliest one was probably Robert
C. Webber's home-made 2.2 kW direct-exchange system, but sources disagree as to the
exact timeline of his invention. J. Donald Kroeker designed the first commercial geothermal
heat pump to heat the Commonwealth Building (Portland, Oregon) and demonstrated it in
1946. Professor Carl Nielsen of Ohio State University built the first residential open loop
version in his home in 1948. The technology became popular in Sweden as a result of the
1973 oil crisis, and has been growing slowly in worldwide acceptance since then. The 1979
development of polybutylene pipe greatly augmented the heat pump’s economic viability.
In 1960, Pacific Gas and Electric began operation of the first successful geothermal electric
power plant in the United States at The Geysers in California. The original turbine lasted for
more than 30 years and produced 11 MW net power. The binary cycle power plant was first
demonstrated in 1967 in the U.S.S.R. and later introduced to the U.S. in 1981. This
technology allows the generation of electricity from much lower temperature resources than
previously. In 2006, a binary cycle plant in Chena Hot Springs, Alaska, came on-line,
producing electricity from a record low fluid temperature of 57 °C (135 °F).
Global geothermal electric capacity. Upper red line is installed capacity;
lower green line is realized production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy
World Geothermal Energy Map
Geothermal power plants are used all over the world, but can not be
located just anywhere. They are located where tectonic plates collide and
generate volcanic activity.
http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/heidtken.html
This map shows where plate boundaries are located.
http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/heidtken.html
This map illustrates the general location of geothermal power plants being used around
the world.
http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/heidtken.html
Installed geothermal
electric capacity
Steam rising from the Nesjavellir
Geothermal Power Station in Iceland.
Youtube movies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjpp2MQffnw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVDBRQvBVso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_9dNx13f4U
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2011/jul/19/radioactive-decay-accounts-for-halfof-earths-heat
In a typical continent, the heat flow from the centre
coming through the mantle is about 10 mW/m2. The
heat flow at the surface is 50 mW/m2. So the
radioactive decay has added an extra 40 mW/m2 to
the heat flow from the centre.
So at a typical location, the maximum power we can
get per unit area is 50 mW/m2.
The temperature increases with depth as shown in
figure 16.4, reaching a temperature of about 500 ºC at a
depth of 40 km. Between depths of 0 km where the
heat flow is biggest but the rock temperature is too low,
and 40 km, where the rocks are hottest but the heat
flow is 5 times smaller (because we’re missing out on
all the heat generated from radioactive decay) there is
an optimal depth at which we should suck. The exact
optimal depth depends on what sort of sucking and
powerstation machinery we use.